Toy horse



July 22, 1952 J. L. BLAIR 2,604,329

TOY HORSE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 21, 1951 July 22, 1952 BLAlR 2,504,329

TOY HORSE Filed May 21, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 M c/ r 1;. Mir

1N VEN TOR.

i Attorneys Patented July 22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,604,329 TOY HORSE Jack L. Blair, Fort Smith, Ark. Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,459.

3 Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a toy horse and more specifically pertains to that type of toy horse which is forwardly propelled by the rocking motion of the rider.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a forwardly propelling means which will progress the horse as rapidly across the supporting surface as those of the prior art but which will require less rocking action by the rider.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rocking-type, forwardly propelled toy horse which more closely simulates a real horse and by such structural features operates in a smoother fashion than those previously known in the prior art.

Reference is herein made to the patent to E. G. Robeson No. 1,479,930, wherein it will be noted that a similar type of toy horse is disclosed. It has been found that in such devices as this, excessive rocking action was necessary to produce any degree of forward propulsion. Furthermore, in order to obtain longer steps, so to speak, during each rocking cycle, it was necessary to construct the rear legs to such a height that when the rider was in the forward position, he was found to assume an uncomfortable downwardly slanting position. Lastly, the structure of the horse did not simulate a moving animal of this nature since the legs were always rigidly straight and not capable of pivoting at their joints as is known to be the case for the real animal.

Accordingly, it is the broad object of this invention to improve and modify the structure shown in the Robeson device whereby the pleasure and enjoyment of a child using the toy horse will be substantially enhanced.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a vertical side view of the instant invention showing a child in phantom view operating the same and being positioned in the rearward rocking position;

Figure 2 is a vertical side view similar to the illustration in Figure 1 and showing the device in the forward rocking position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention as previously viewed in Figures 1 or 2;

Figure 4 is a front vertical view;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional fragmentary V 2 view taken along the plane of the section lines 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional fragmentary view taken along the plane of the section lines 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective detail view showing the construction of the upper portion of one of the front legs.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen thatthe numeral l8 designates a substantially fiat body portion having a contour simulating a horse when viewed from the vertical side position. As will be clearly evident from Figures 1 and 2, the forearms l2 are the only'portions of the legs which are constructed integrally with the body portion l0.

Accordingly, freely pivotally depending from the forearm l2 of each front leg is a shank member and attached hoof, l4 and [6, respectively. In the'locality of the joint or knee portion l8, the forearm I2 is provided with a projecting edge 20 having a lower flat surface 22. At the upper portion of the shank l4 and on the inner side thereof is a horizontally mounted pin 24 positioned to abuttingly engage the flat surface 22 when in the upward or forward position. It is intended that the relationship of the pin 24 to the projecting edge 20 will be such that when the shank I4 is in its forward position, it will be inclined inwardly relative to the body l0.

At the rear portion of the body It! will be seen the rear pair of legs 26. The hock 28, shank 30 and hoof 3| are constructed in integral angulated relationship and the entire leg 26 is pivoted to the buttock portion 32 of the body [0. A rectangular recess 34 is provided in the body I0 adjacent and between the hock portions 28 and in combination with the pin 36, fixedly secured between the hock portions 28, comprises the rear leg stop or limit means. These rear parts are constructed so that, as best seen in Figure 2, when a downward force is applied at the rear of the saddle 38 of the body portion H], the shank 30 will tend to move rearwardly to the position as shown in Figure 1.

Ri-gidly depending from the center of the body I0 and being positioned between the front and rear pairs of legs, is a rolling support means including a bracket 40 and a wheel 42. It will be evident that in either of the extreme forward or rearwardpositions, the body ill will be supported by both the wheel 42 and either the front v or rear leg bearing against its limit means.

However, one of the most significant features of the invention is the provision of a rigidly mounted depending roller 44 between the shank portions M of the front legs. This roller is journalled on a depending bifurcated bracket 46, the latter being rigidly attached to the undersurface of the forearm 12. It is intended that the length of the bracket 4-8 be substantially shorter than the bracket 48 and that these two links be so adjusted that when the horse body It! is in the forward position, as in Figure 2, both of the wheels 42 and M will be rolling contact with the supporting surface, as 48, and the saddle 38 will be in such a position as to support a person sitting therein in a substantially upright or horizontal manner. Therefore, it will be seen that the forward wheel 44 is useful both as a safety wheel to prevent the front hoofs 16 of the horse from digging into the supporting surface 48 and also provides a coasting wheel to allow free wheeling and therefore greater propulsion of the toy.

To. aidin the propulsion of the device, springs, not shown, may be provided in a manner believed to be quite conventional at the jointed connections, such as 18, of either the forward or rearward pairs of legs. Lastly, other features which are included to enhance the appearance and operation of the horse include footrests or rungs 59 which further act as an, axle for the wheels 42, handle bars 52 to, aid inthepropulsion of the device, and. reins 54 which, as will be subsequentlydescribed, aidin. turning, the horse if so desired.

Since, as will be noted in Figure 4, the shank portions M of, tthe. forward. legs extend laterally outwardly. of the body 1.9, if. either of the reins 54, are pulled upwardly seats to. hold the. particular shank portion I4 in an upward position when the rider is bearing down on the. rear, of the body 18-, a lateral force. will be. applied to. the body Hi in the direction of the inclination of the leg left to pivot in a free and normal manner. This lateral force will pivot the body I in a horizontal, plane around the wheel 42' and. thereby cause the horse to turn as well as to progress forwardly.

The complete operation of the device is. as follows:

Considering'the body to be in a position as seen in'Figure. l and the'rider to be seated in a position such as is illustrated in saidfigure, it will be noted that'the horse and rider are being supported by the wheel; 42" and foot 3-1. The rear legs 26 are prevented from moving by the en.-

gagement of the pin 36 in the recess: 3t. If the rider now shifts his weight toward; the front of the horse or more specifically, forwardly of. the. central supporting wheel 42, the shank 14 will flex and move toward the wheel 42- by reason of; its angular inclination relative to the body 10. Such an oscillation of the body thereby shifting the center of gravity of the horse, will impart energy to the wheels 42- and 44 and cause them to turn relative to the supporting surface. 48, Thus; the horse and rider will move forwardly, the device assuming a position such as that seen in Figure 2. In this position, the shanks 14- are in their rearwardmost position, being, held from engagement with the supporting surface 48- by means of the reins. Further, the rear legs 26 have pivoted to their downward limiting Desitionv and preferably are not touching the supporting surface 48. in such a manner that they will not provide too great a drag on, the entire device.

When the rider feels that the forward propulsion is about to cease, he then may shift his weight to the position shown in Figure 1 thereby placing a force on the rear portion of the body ill, moving the rear leg 26 to its rearwardmost limiting position and lifting the forearm 12 to the substantially horizontal position seen in Figure 1 and, providing the reins 54 are both left free, lifting the shank I4 to its vertical position, also seen as in Figure 1.

Finally, it wi11 be noted that when the device is in motion, and assumes the position shown in Figure l, the rider may continue to lean rearwardly, thus achieving what may be called a braking action, to arrest the movement of the horse.

From the foregoing, the construction and oporation of the. device will be readily understood, together with its obvious useful features of construction, and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

Accordingly, since. numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration. of the foregoing. specification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all-suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the'scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1*. A toy horse comprising a body, front and rear pivots thereon, front and rear pairs of legs mounted on the respectivepivots, a rolling support provided under said body between the front and rear pairs of legs whereby the body may be rocked forwardly and rearwardly about said rolling support, stop means provided on said body for limiting forward movement of the front legs in a position where the points of contact of the front legs with the ground are spaced rearwardly from the front pivot; stop means said body for limiting rearward movement of the rear legs in a, position. where the points of contactof; the rear legs with the ground are spaced rearwardly from the rear pivot, and a rolling member provided between the front legs and coacting; intermittently with said rolling support to carry said body when the body is in its forwardly rocked position.

2; The device as defined in claim 1, together with a bracket rigidly secured to said body between the front legs and carrying said rolling member.

3. The device as. defined in claim 1, wherein the points of contact of the front legs with the ground are spaced laterally to the respective opposite sides of said body, and means provided on said-body rendering the front legs selectively and individually moperative.

JACK L. BLAIR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin. the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,243,465 Webb Oct. 16, 1917' 1,479,930 Robeson Jan. 8, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,950 Austria Feb. 25, 1903 196,434 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1923 211,231 Germany June 25, 1909 provided on. 

